Process of preparing flax yarn.



UXIIED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

liliR'lltAXD S. UMMERS, OF PORT EUROS, MICHIGAN, ASSlGbIOR, BY )JESNE .-\SSIGSi\lF.I\"I-.

TO INTERNATIONAL FLAX TWINE COMPANY,

A CORPORATIOX F .\IINNESO TA.

PROCESS OF PREPARING FLAX YARN.

Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

Application filed November 1, 1908. Serial No. 341,651.

' ing is a specification.

My invention relates to the method or process of preparing unretted flax yarn after the same spun and the object thereof is to so treat. or prepare the flax yarn as to impart thereto :nlditional strength, and to improve the color and appearance thereof. \Vhen unretted llax fiber is spun intc the yarn, it is more or less rough in appearance and con tains more or less woody particles derived lrom the woody portion of the, plant, which particles are known as shire. The shire imparts to the yarn a more or less crude appearance and the natural roughness of the fiber enhances this irregularity to such a degree as to make the yarn appear rough and irregular. I have discovered that when this uurotted llax yarn is dampened during the balling operation and the same is allowed to stand in a dampened condition in the ball for a certain length of time, the yarn greatly improves in color as well as strength and that the rough libers become nicely laid in the yarn, besides which the shire and the yarn itsclt' get practically thesame color, so that the shivc is not. nearly as apparent in the yarn. Moreover, this action has considerable of a bleaching tendency, resulting in a muclrmore commercial yarn.

in order to aid the action above described, re ulting from da'mipening, and to further euliance the strength of the yarn, I add to the "water certain ingredients which I iind to he of material bent-lit. The ingredients which 1 preferably employ are glue and soft soap which are made into an aqueous solution by mixing with water, as hereinafter ex dainet both the glue and soap being used, although some measure of my invention may be obtained if either one thereof were to be used alone. The glue adds materially to the strength of the fiber and greatly aids in layin; the fuzz or rough iibers of the yarn, while the soap has a marked solvent action on the coloring matter of the tin): which greatly aids in imparting a uniform appearance to the yarn as regards color, the soap also preventing the glue from sticking or cementing the yarn together and thereby permitting the yarn to be readily unwound from the ball. While the proportions of these ingredients may be considerably varied, I prefer to use a mixture comprising substantially two parts of glue, six parts of soap, and three parts of water, which ingredients are. heated together until all are in solution, cicntly warm to maintain the ingredients in a. lluid condition.

Any convenient means whatsoever may be used in introducing the solution into the yarn. and the same may be introduced at any desired stage after the spinning operation, the only precaution necessary being to prevent the yarn from becoming too wet, it being found in practice that about ten per cent. of the weight of the yarn is avery Sui.- able amount of the solution to be introduced into the yarn. However, lprefcr to intro duce this solution into the yarn while it is passing from the bobbin onto the balling spindle, and this can be done either by meansof a small roller working in a trough, or the yarn can simplv be passed over a sponge or riece of soft cloth such as felt, wiich has been moistened with the solution.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz' l. The process of preparing yarn which consists in moistcning unretted flax yarn and balling the same while in a moist condition.

.2. The process of preparing arn which consists in moistening unrettetl flax yarn with an aqueous solution of glue and balling the some while in a moist condition.

3. The p ocess of preparing arn which consists in luoisteinngs unrette' flax ram with an aqueous solution of soap and bailing the same while in a moist condition."

4. T he process of preparing yarn, which consists in treating unretted flax yarn with an aqueous solution of glue and soap and balling the same while in a moist COIlt ition.

BERTRAXD S. SUMB'IERS.

\Vi tnesscs:

'lnonas J. WnrrE, E. Pos'r.

which is kept suliiy 

